Caring for Your Whole Child Goffstown NH

Creating a secure environment is the most important way to meet your child s emotional needs. For a child, physical and emotional safety is imperative. Physically, she needs the security that comes from structure and order. This can be obtained by imposing gentle structure on her time, surroundings, and belongings.

Caring for Your Whole Child

Your child is a unique blend of traits, habits, and qualities. This blend is what makes her an individual. Therefore, caring for a child demands we address the whole person, not just part of her. While every child must be approached on her level, all children have five basic needs. They are physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual. These needs are basic to all human beings, and having them met is crucial to your child s growth and development.

Wholistic Care

Physically

Humans have three basic physical needs. We all need oxygen, water, and food to live. In our world, the quality of these things varies. These differences affect our bodies and how they respond to daily living. Polluted air and toxic water and food does not offer our bodies ample energy. On the other hand, pure air, water, and food allow the body to function at its best. While it is hard to control air and water quality, most parents can control what their children eat. Eating a healthy diet gives your child the strength to meet life head on. That means eating foods that are high in fiber and low in fat. It also means eating enough protein, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, parents should choose foods that are free of additives, preservatives, and food coloring.

Emotionally

Creating a secure environment is the most important way to meet your child s emotional needs. For a child, physical and emotional safety is imperative. Physically, she needs the security that comes from structure and order. This can be obtained by imposing gentle structure on her time, surroundings, and belongings. You may choose to include morning and bedtime rituals, routine meal times, and when age appropriate, chores. Emotionally, she needs a stable environment, which includes knowing her parents or mentors will be there when she needs them. It is from this place of absolute safety that she will develop and mature emotionally.

Socially

All children need support. For younger children, the family fills that role. As children age, however, that changes. They start moving into different communities and develop the desire to belong and achieve. They also begin to want friends and to be part of a larger group. In order for their social needs to be met, children must be encouraged to grow beyond the family. They must also have good role models on which they can build their own brand of social interaction. As with most things, children model their social behaviors after the ones their parents exhibit. Therefore, it is important your children see you as a friend and community member. Let them see you display acts of kindness and affection. Also, let them see you give and receive social support during times of adversity. By watching you, they will acquire the skills necessary to formulate a support group outside th...

There are parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. There are also characters who are dealing with the same situations they are. In this way, stories help children know they are not alone in their problems. They also let them see someone else handle the issue. Once exposed to how a storybook character masters a difficult situation, children are often inspired to tackle their own problems.